Council resolution would set timeline for Seattle’s next steps after damning King County Regional Homelessness Authority audit

The Seattle City Council’s Human Services, Labor, and Economic Development Committee chaired by Alexis Mercedes Rinck is slated Friday morning to begin shaping a resolution on the city’s next steps after a forensic audit revealed major financial problems around the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.

The audit revealed the regional authority has a $44.7 million spending hole with millions unaccounted for.

The audit commissioned by city and county officials last summer as concerns rose around the authority’s finances showed the organization bleeding funds with a negative cash position of $44.7 million.

The council resolution is hoped to set a June schedule for Mayor Katie Wilson’s office to provide Rinck and the committee an initial assessment of the corrective action plan submitted by the KCRHA.

The resolution could also set a firm summer deadline: “No later than August 1, 2026, the Mayor or designee makes a recommendation to the Chair of the HSLED Committee on whether the City should terminate its participation in the Amended ILA and dissolve KCRHA, restructure KCRHA, or continue it as is,” a summary of the proposal reads.

Under the proposed resolution, if dissolution or restructure is recommended, the mayor would be called on to provide a plan no later than August 1st including plans for the possible re-bidding of homeless service contract, according to a presentation (PDF) on the proposed resolution.

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